Use of Student Residence Facilities

University Policy: 
601
.5
Executive Summary: 

University-established residence halls are managed by University staff to ensure protection of the rights of students to study, sleep, and function as a part of a living-learning community. This community of students is subject to policies for reasonable limits on levels of noise, visiting by guests, and merchandising activities.

The University has established residence halls (including student apartments and suites) in an effort to provide campus living arrangements that are safe and conducive to the academic and personal development of students. Residential areas are private and are managed by University staff to ensure protection of the rights of students to study, to sleep, and to function as a part of a living-learning community. This community of students is subject to policies that are in keeping with the mission of the University, including policies for reasonable limits on levels of noise, visiting by guests, and merchandising activities. The definitions of "Affiliated Group," "Non-Affiliated Group," and "Sponsored Non-Affiliated Group" set forth in University Policy #601.6, "Scheduling University Facilities." also apply to this Policy Statement.

 

I. Common Areas in Residence Halls  

Common areas in residence halls, including community rooms, lounges and recreation rooms, are available primarily for hall-sponsored activities and informal use by individual students. Common areas are available for occasional private use upon reservation by hall residents for small gatherings such as showers and parties, but hall-sponsored activities are given priority over private functions. Reservation of common areas by residents of the hall for private use must be completed through the Residence Coordinators at least three days prior to the activity. Reasonable limits have been established on when these common areas are available for private functions. The following provisions have been established governing use of common areas.  

A. The number of persons attending any activity in a common area cannot exceed the capacity established for fire safety. Residence Coordinators have information available on common areas in the units for which they are responsible. The individual requesting the reservation must develop a procedure in advance to limit attendance and is responsible for implementing this procedure. An activity which exceeds capacity must be terminated immediately for fire safety reasons.  

B. The activity must not unreasonably disrupt living conditions in the residential areas. Adherence to regulations such as those limiting noise and visitation is the responsibility of the individual making the reservation.  

C. If the reservation is being made by a resident for selling or for a product party/demonstration, the resident is to follow the same procedures as those outlined for reservations for small gatherings such as showers and parties.  
 

II. Student Rooms in Residence Halls  

A. Student rooms are provided for the use and enjoyment of residents as they pursue their primary goal of obtaining an education. Residence Life policies provide reasonable limits on use of rooms that are in keeping with the mission of the University.  

B. In order to provide for the safety of residents in accordance with fire safety codes, no more than the code-specified number for the type of room may be present in a student room in a campus residence hall at any time. Residents must make arrangements to use common rooms through the Residence Coordinator for larger gatherings. Failure to comply with this provision will subject the resident(s) responsible for the violation to the full range of disciplinary sanctions available to University disciplinary bodies.  

III. Door-to-Door Solicitation Prohibited   No individual, affiliated group or non-affiliated group may make door-to-door solicitation in the residence halls (including apartments and suite-type facilities).  
 

IV. Fund-Raising Activities  

Affiliated groups may conduct fund-raising activities, including sales or solicitation of charitable contributions, under the following circumstances.  

A. Written permission must be obtained from the Residence Coordinator of the building/area.  

B. The activity may be conducted only within the lobby, lounges, or other areas of the residential facilities designated by the Director of Residence Life, and only during those times designated by the Director.  

C. Any such activity must comply fully with all applicable health, safety, and other laws and regulations, and with University policy.  

D. The purpose of the fund-raising activity must be to collect funds to benefit the affiliated group.  

E. The group must agree to be responsible for any damage to University property resulting from the fund-raising activity, and for clean-up of the facility at the conclusion of the event.  
 

V. Commercial Activity  

Commercial transactions, which include commercial presentations and the making of sales agreements that are legal and otherwise comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and University policy may take place in a student's private room only under the following conditions.  

A. Sales persons and any other guests present in a student's room for a commercial transaction must be invited to the room for that purpose in advance by the student occupant of the room. In rooms other than single rooms all roommates (apartment mates and suite mates) must consent to such an invitation.  

B. Students may use their private rooms for infrequent commercial transactions, but they may not schedule such transactions on a regular or continuous basis. University policy does not permit an individual student to operate a continuing business from their private room.  

C. A student inviting non-resident guests to their room for a commercial transaction assumes responsibility for the actions of their non-resident guests while those non-resident guests are present in the residence hall at the invitation of the student, whether those non-resident guests are observers or commercial presenters.  

D. The number of guests in a student's room for a commercial transaction shall not violate fire code regulations or other occupancy limits. Those present in a student's room for a commercial transaction shall not at any time during that transaction move any or all of the group into the common areas of the residential areas.  

E. These regulations do not permit any door-to-door activity in the residential areas either to obtain guests for a commercial transaction being held in a student's room or to consummate sales following such a transaction except by invitation of the individual student who wishes to consummate a sale following such a transaction.  

F. Both the methods of sale and the merchandise or services sold must comply with all applicable law and university policy.
 

VI. Other Uses  

Written permission to use space in the residence halls for the purposes listed below may be obtained from the Residence Coordinator after completing the appropriate registration form. Only the lobby or lounges of the residential areas may be used for these purposes, and use is subject to reasonable limitation by the Residence Coordinator on the time of day and frequency of such events as well as the manner in which such event is conducted. Uses may not be approved which do not comply with applicable occupancy limits, fire regulations, and other laws, or which will create substantial interference with the rights of student residents for sleep and study. The following uses may be approved by the Residence Coordinator.  

A. Discussion with or addresses by candidates for local, state, or national political offices.  

B. Charitable solicitations by affiliated groups that participate in solicitation on behalf of any non-affiliated group which establishes that it has been declared exempt from taxation as a "charitable organization" by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.        

All charitable solicitations on campus must comply with law regulating the solicitation of charitable contributions (N.C.G.S. Section 131F-1, et. seq.).  

C. Solicitation, address, or discussion by an affiliated group, acting in a manner consistent with its stated purpose and in the interest of its informational or educational goals, to seek to enlarge its membership, disseminate its published works or materials supportive of its point of view, or to solicit support for it causes.  

D. Solicitation, address, or discussion by persons whose purpose is to afford students access to religious views and perspectives.    

Revision History: 
  • Initially approved August 28, 1995
  • Updated July 19, 2021

Authority: Chancellor

Responsible Office: Student Affairs

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